Qualifying Round 3 Pre-Match Draw

On the massive sky screen, all three groups of the second qualifying round had finished, and the rankings were updated. The current top eight: Moxie and Qingjun were tied for first with eight points each, followed by Long Yuan and Cimei Academy tied for second with seven points, Lianda and Dolanston tied for third with six points, seventh was Zhicheng—who won their first match but got crushed by Moxie and Cimei in the second—and the battle for eighth was tight, though most believed it would come down to Shaji or Du'e.

Just one more round of group-stage qualifiers, and this year's league top eight would be decided.

Despite the updated rankings, no one was in a talkative mood. Today's losses by the imperial military academies lingered like a steady drizzle, seeping into every corner long after the crowd had dispersed.

Posts on the Sky Network were a mix of sighs, angry accusations, and calm analyses. Liu Ming watched with great satisfaction, seizing every chance to praise Xu Lingqu even in times like this.

"Don't Be Mad Anymore, Why Not Watch Xu Lingqu's Besiege-and-Rescue on the Federal Military Academy Again"

[OP's got a good attitude, but those who like Xu Lingqu are really enjoying themselves right now]

[Honestly, I used to have a lot of prejudice against her B-level mental power, but after watching today, I really think a commander's mental power isn't that important—it's all about on-the-spot command ability and emotional stability]

[Agreed. Reviewing Xu Lingqu's matches, the first thing I noticed is how calm she is. Whether at a disadvantage or advantage, her command voice stays steady]

[I'm so used to passionate, fiery commands that Xu Lingqu's style threw me off at first lol]

[I love her style though. In tense moments like matches or battles, hearing her speak really calms you down. When ahead, she keeps everyone from getting carried away; when behind, it's reassuring]

[Yeah, I don't like those commands that sound passionate at first but are actually all fluff. If I were on the field, having a commander who stays calm and tells me exactly what to do to win—that's what would really boost my morale]

...

Liu Ming logged off the Sky Network, satisfied. Night had fallen, and Xu Lingqu had already returned to the dorm.

Her hair had grown a bit longer, the ends reaching her collarbone.

Though she'd never let up on training, likely due to her physique, her muscles weren't prominent—hardly visible unless she exerted herself.

Combined with her usual loose combat uniform, she looked slim and lean, her skin as pale as ever. All of it made her deceptively harmless-looking, easy to underestimate.

Only those at Moxie knew how aggressive Xu Lingqu could be in hand-to-hand combat.

"Still being pestered by that spy?" Liu Ming asked curiously.

"No," Xu Lingqu shook her head.

After coming to see her, Tang Muwen had gone back to being invisible, no longer trailing her like a shadow as he had during the trial period. He likely figured Xu Lingqu was now under control and just waiting for Xu Chengbi to deal with her personally.

Good, Liu Ming thought. The Federation people were getting so bold these days—if it ever found its original body and came across Chen Dao, it would beat that dog to a pulp again.

"By the way, the third draw is tomorrow, right?" Liu Ming remembered the real question it had wanted to ask after logging off the network.

Xu Lingqu nodded. "Mm."

"Have you figured out who you want to draw?" Liu Ming asked, curious.

The network was full of people hoping Moxie would face Qingjun.

Xu Lingqu raised an eyebrow. "Is that something I can decide?"

Liu Ming immediately started selling itself. "If you bring me, you can decide!"

It could help Xu Lingqu cheat right under everyone's noses—she could pick any opponent, any map she wanted!

So that's what all those questions were for—it wanted to follow her to the league arena. This dog had learned to be patient and reveal its true intentions step by step.

Xu Lingqu smiled. "Not bringing you."

Liu Ming angrily buried its head in the blanket. Sure, it could watch Xu Lingqu's matches on the livestream from the dorm, but being right there with her would definitely be the best experience!

Every time it watched a match, Liu Ming wished it could be in there, but Xu Lingqu just wouldn't take it to the arena!

"You're a master who doesn't know how to spoil their pet!"

Xu Lingqu accepted the "compliment" naturally. "I really am."

-

The next morning, all military academy teams gathered at the venue for the thrilling third draw.

Looking at Gu Tingzhi, Jia Xiangying, Li Muyi, and Jinfang Taibai's identical dark circles, it was clear they'd barely slept all night.

Guan Chuanjun, however, had shaken off his previous gloom and was beaming.

He'd gone to see his cousin last night—she was a high-ranking member of the Church of Blazing Flames—and, holding to the spirit of "better safe than sorry," he'd asked her to pray that he'd be grouped with Moxie again.

Guan Chuanjun still felt uneasy around Xu Lingqu, but he wasn't one to avoid a challenge. Facing Moxie one more time was fine—whether he won or lost, as long as he gave it his all, that would be a victory!

Xu Lingqu had no idea she was being treated like a personal demon. When the host announced this round's split was 5-5-6, she entered the competition pod and found herself at the virtual draw point again.

This time, the Sky Network had seemingly altered the draw scene out of nowhere—it actually brought the Federation's chief commanders and the Empire's chief commanders into the same virtual space.

Last time, they'd been separated and couldn't see each other. Now, meeting head-on, the tension was thick as gunpowder.

The livestream chat began to stir:

[So intense—they just bumped into each other and the air's full of hostility]

[Gu Tingzhi's usually so refined, but for a second there he looked ready to throw a punch at Jia Xianglan]

[Jia Xiangying looks ready to disown her brother]

[Yeah, Jia Xianglan's just asking for a beating lol]

[But why does Jia Xianglan keep staring at Xu Lingqu? It's creepy and unsettling]

[I'm not the only one who noticed. Jia Xianglan just needs a beating from Xu Lingqu to straighten up. I'm making a wish—please, let Qingjun and Moxie be in the same group!]

[Given the Sky Network's shady tricks, that's never gonna happen. Give up. Qingjun and Moxie are tied for first now—if they're in the same group, that's basically an early finals. How would they sell their overpriced tickets for the actual finals?]

[Moxie fans are having delusions again. Finals? Remember last year's record?]

[Sorry, but this year Moxie has Commander Xu Lingqu and S+ single-soldier Shen Shouli. They're aiming straight for the finals! That last guy's just jealous]